But the lack of a bowl game could serve coach Urban Meyer's purposes next year.

Meyer says he will do anything to fight complacency after the Buckeyes went 12-0 this season. To do that, he may just summon up the issue of the bowl ban the school accepted for violations that occurred under deposed coach Jim Tressel.

Meyer said he needs an "angry" team next season.

He has already met with his staff about how to light a fire under those who return from a surprising team that won its Big Ten division while posting only the sixth perfect season in school history. The Buckeyes lose at least six starters on defense and three on offense, plus the punter.

It might seem incongruous that a coach in charge of an NCAA-penalized program welcomes even more punitive sanctions to schools. But that's precisely where Ohio State coach Urban Meyer stands on the new NCAA guidelines on penalties.

The NCAA announced this week that it will levy more severe punishment to schools and coaches who break the rules. The association's board of directors passed a package of changes which hold coaches more accountable for rule-breaking and offers longer postseason bans and heftier fines for those who violate its bylaws.